Most driving laws are pretty standard: Stop at stop signs. Don’t drink and drive. Pass on the left. You know, the ones you memorized for your driver’s test. But as it turns out, there are others you probably aren’t familiar with—and in some cases, they’re strange. Very strange. In fact, weird driving laws are found throughout the country. These regulations go beyond the usual traffic rules and prohibit some highly specific situations—many that aren’t typically associated with driving at all.
We all took driver’s ed, and you may think you know the basics. But trust us when we say that some of these dumb laws will come as a shock to you. Are you breaking any of these strange driving laws? Keep reading to find out.
How we chose the weirdest driving laws
We scoured the internet looking for weird driving laws (or driving-adjacent laws) in each state, then narrowed it down to the 22 most bizarre. We consulted statewide laws and local ordinances. As it turns out, there are tons of urban legends and other sketchy information out there. For example, have you heard that it’s illegal to drive while barefoot? Yeah, that’s false in all 50 states.
Coming up, we separate fact from fiction so you can have the most definitive and accurate list around.
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Alaska: No driving with an animal attached to your car
Life in Alaska is different, and so are their laws. One particularly strange law in Anchorage, Alaska, from 1982, prohibits driving with an animal attached to a motor vehicle “under conditions that may endanger the health, safety or welfare of the animal, including but not limited to insufficient control or extreme temperature.” It’s hard to imagine situations where driving with an animal attached to your car doesn’t endanger its health, safety or welfare, so this is essentially a ban.
Arkansas: You can’t honk your horn at a sandwich shop
In Arkansas, it’s illegal to honk your horn anywhere “cold drinks or sandwiches are served after 9 p.m.” The wording of this 1961 law is a little confusing: Are you prohibited from honking your horn at any time of day anywhere that sells cold drinks or sandwiches after 9 p.m., or is the ban on honking your horn after 9 p.m. at sandwich shops? Either way, it’s best to be patient when waiting for sandwiches—no matter how hungry you are.
California: No honking your horn at political rallies
Let’s say you’re coming home from work and drive past a political rally. A quick look at the protesters’ placards reveals that you support their cause. Should you honk your horn in solidarity? Not if you’re driving in California. They have a law on the books stipulating that horns can only be honked for safety or as a theft alarm system. In 2023, a woman who honked her horn at a political rally was cited for misuse. While the citation was dismissed, the plaintiff argued in court that honking was within her First Amendment rights. She lost the case, and the law still stands.
Connecticut: It’s illegal to startle horses on public roadways
Motorists in Connecticut need to take care when driving by a horse, according to a 2024 law. More specifically, no driver “in the vicinity of an equestrian and horse may blow a horn or cause loud or unusual noises, in a manner to startle or frighten the horse.” Not only that, but drivers must slow down or stop, if necessary, to avoid endangering the equestrian or frightening or striking the horse.
Delaware: You can’t change clothes in your car
Apparently, too many people were changing clothes inside their cars on Fenwick Island in Delaware, because a law exists making that illegal. If you’re planning on visiting any of the island’s beautiful beaches, you’ll need to find somewhere else to slip into your swimsuit.
Florida: Swamp buggies are legal on city streets
Live in Florida and want to drive a swamp buggy on a public road or street? Well, you’re in luck, provided that the local government has designated the road for use by swamp buggies. It’s a little trickier with highways. Generally speaking, you’re not allowed to drive swamp buggies on the highway itself. However, there is one exception: The swamp buggy may cross a highway that intersects a county road or municipal street that permits the use of swamp buggies.
Georgia: You may not support your phone with any body part
Hands-free phone laws aren’t exactly weird, but knee-free laws? Since 2018, a funny law in Georgia makes it illegal for a driver to have a phone in their hand or, more interestingly, use any part of their body to support their phone. That means no balancing it on your shoulder or resting it on your knee. The law, which also restricts texting, social media and email use, curiously exempts ham radios.
Illinois: No collecting roadkill if you’re behind on child support
If you hit a whitetail deer in Illinois and want to keep it, you’d better be up-to-date with your child support payments. That’s because of an unusual 2010 law from Illinois stipulating that “only citizens of the State of Illinois who are not delinquent in child support may possess or transport whitetail deer that have been killed as a result of a collision with a motor vehicle.” In case you’re wondering, there’s no limit to the number of roadkill deer one driver can have.
Kentucky: It’s OK to run red lights on a motorcycle
Typically, running red lights is illegal, but that’s not always the case for motorcyclists in Kentucky. A 2015 state law says that it’s OK for motorcycles to run red lights if the traffic light is malfunctioning, or if a light is programmed to turn green when a vehicle is detected … but it doesn’t detect the motorcycle that’s waiting. But you can’t just breeze through willy-nilly: Motorcyclists have to stop at the light first.
Maine: No parking in front of Dunkin
Talk about a weirdly specific law: South Berwick, Maine, prohibits parking on Main Street (West) in front of Dunkin Donuts. Of course, now the famous chain is just called Dunkin, but we wouldn’t test that technicality. It’s unclear why this law was enacted, but you’d better think twice before popping in for a quick coffee and donut and leaving your car out front.
Maryland: It’s illegal to curse on or near the street
Want to let off steam with some good, old-fashioned cursing on the street? Well, don’t do it in Rockville, Maryland, where it’s illegal to “profanely curse and swear or use obscene language” on or near any sidewalk, street or highway within the hearing of persons passing by. The law doesn’t stipulate which words count as swearing, so you’ll need to use your best judgment.
Massachusetts: You must cage your bear
If you happen to be transporting a bear or other dangerous wild animal in Massachusetts, it had better be properly secured in some covered vehicle or cage. So what happens if you’re caught doing that? Not much, really. The 1902 law says that violators will be punished by a fine of not less than $5 nor more than $20.
Minnesota: No driving with muddy tires
You may want to think twice before going off-roading in Minnetonka, Minnesota. That’s because it’s illegal for a truck or any other vehicle to deposit mud, dirt, sticky substances, litter or other material on any street or highway via their wheels or tires. If you live in this town, the car wash is your friend.
Missouri: It’s illegal to leave your keys in your car
In the habit of leaving your car running while you pop into the store? In University City, Missouri, there’s a law against leaving your keys in your car unattended. It’s probably best that you don’t do that anyway, because it makes things much easier for car thieves.
Montana: You must have a permit to transport sheep
In Montana, it’s illegal to transport sheep without a permit. Anyone who breaks this law will be punished by a fine not exceeding $1,000, imprisonment in the county jail for six months or fewer, or both. So if you’re thinking about taking your sheep for a ride, don’t do it—it’s a baaaaaaad idea.
New Jersey: It’s illegal to pump your own gas
If you need gas in New Jersey, don’t think about pumping it yourself: There’s a law against it. The law has been around since 1949, so most New Jersey residents on the road today don’t remember a time without full-service stations. The law was enacted because of safety concerns and fire hazards.
Ohio: Taxi drivers can’t wear shorts after Labor Day
Cincinnati, Ohio, has a strict dress code for taxi drivers. Drivers must wear full-length trousers—specifically, slacks or jeans of neutral color with no designs. Women may wear a skirt. There’s an exception to this rule during the summer: Shorts may be worn from May 16 through Labor Day, provided they’re solid in color, aren’t cutoffs, are no more than 3 inches above the knee and don’t go below the knee.
Rhode Island: It’s illegal to operate a motorized tricycle on the highway
If you were thinking about joyriding on a motorized tricycle in Rhode Island, think again–it’s illegal on interstate highways. It’s unclear exactly how many of these vehicles were on the roads in the state, but there must have been enough to create a problem.
South Carolina: You can’t leave garbage in your car
On Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, it’s illegal to accumulate trash in your vehicle. The law exists to prevent an invasion of rats in the area, but this is another one that’s a good idea regardless of the law. No one wants a smelly car.
South Dakota: Kids can legally drive at 14
While most states require you to be 15 or 16 to get a learner’s permit, South Dakota allows you to get one at age 14. Of course, this isn’t a full driver’s license, but it does allow the person to drive from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. as long as there’s a licensed driver aged 18 or above in the vehicle.
Texas: It’s OK to turn left on a red light
Plenty of states allow drivers to make a right turn at a red light, but Texas takes this one step further and permits left turns on red under certain circumstances. In Texas, people can turn left at a red traffic light if they have stopped at the intersection, if they have yielded the right-of-way to pedestrians and other traffic, and if both intersecting streets are one-way streets.
Washington: No driving while hugging
Keep your hands to yourself if you’re driving in Washington state. According to a 2024 law, it’s illegal for drivers to embrace another person while driving on the state’s highways. The reason? It “prevents the free and unhampered operation” of the vehicle. Not only that, but embracing while on the road is evidence of reckless driving. So no matter how much you might want to cuddle up, keep those hugs to yourself until you’re safely out of the vehicle.
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